Japan: Doshisha University wins national round of moot-court competition

20-12-2012 News Release 12/251

Tokyo (ICRC) – By winning Japan's national moot-court competition in international humanitarian law, held on 8 December at the Japanese Red Cross College of Nursing in Hiroo, Tokyo, Doshisha University has earned the right to represent the country in the finals set to take place in Hong Kong in March 2013.

"We will do our very best in Hong Kong," said Kosuke Onishi of Doshisha University, who succeeded in defending his title as best mooter. "International humanitarian law has a direct impact on many people in conflict areas," he said. "Knowing the law and promoting it can protect many lives."

Daisuke Shibasaki, the ICRC political adviser who organizes the moot-court event in Japan every year, said that, slowly but surely, the competition is becoming well known. "The students' efforts and performance are really amazing, and they're getting a lot of attention," he said. "But as a great deal more needs to be done to spread knowledge of international humanitarian law in the country, our cooperation with the Japanese Red Cross Society, the government and others remains as important as ever."

This is the third year the ICRC has organized the national round of competition, and the first time it has hosted the event together with the Japanese Red Cross.